Doug, Sorry for the delay in replying, been 'out of town' and had a lot of matches to watch.
You are right the Z's brakes are a joke, but one can survive if precautions such as thinking 10 miles ahead are taken. I have ridden mine for well over 20 years and I am still caught out, especially if it has been standing in rain or heavy condensation. If you mentally switch off, or even if you don't, the first time you hit the brakes absolutely nothing happens, and the problem in front starts to come at you very fast. The natural action is to white knuckle even harder in blind panic, when suddenly with a loud groan the stainless steel single disk gets wipe dried and the front locks up and its a toss up whether you stay aboard. When this happens on soused roads or oily approaches to bus stops or crossings, life can take on a new meaning. But you and I are of the devil may care hairy chested old invincibles and take it all in our stride. Its called true motorcycling, none of this mamby pamby high teck stuff they are used to these days. If you need brakes you shouldn't be riding. Err, I think. By the way do you also get fork flex as well to enjoy. Regards Tom T ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Long" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 8:34 AM Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > Tom, > > Beware next time you take your Z650 out. You need to put a sign on the tank > or somewhere you can easily see it, with the message "BEWARE, THESE BRAKES > DON'T WORK".. I've just been out on my GS850 outfit for the first time > since getting the GTS, it was slightly damp, and I almost found myself > embedded in the boot (trunk) of a Volvo at the first set of lights I came > to. > > Didn't realise just how good the brakes on the GTS are. > > Heres a question for one and all. Do Volvo drivers have the same reputation > in the US as they do in the UK? > > i.e. As soon as they get behind the wheel they turn into Mr Mole and can > only see what is no more than 2 feet directly in front of the bonnet (hood), > and are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. I know they have > the same opinion in Aus as I worked there for a while, and just wondered if > it was a worldwide thing. > > ( Apologies now to any Volvo driving GTS'er, I suppose someone has to drive > one.) > > Regards > Doug > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "tomatomt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 12:56 AM > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > Jeff, > > > > Thanks for your interest and advice. > > > > Can't argue with anything you say, it all makes sense. > > > > A lot of very friendly riders have contacted me since my initial message, > > also with good advice. I must admit I did expect to be given a hard time > but > > this has not happened. I must have bored them rigid. > > > > My slow speed handling problem seems to have been solved by simply > > increasing the front tyre pressure up to 38psi. A remarkably simple > solution > > supplied by other GTS'ers. > > > > All I need to do now is get up to speed. I am taking it a bit at a time. > > > > One good thing is that it is a piece of cake to put on its centre stand. > The > > Z650 is considerably lighter but a pig to lift. > > > > Thanks again. > > > > Regards > > > > Tom T > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Boman, Jeff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 7:10 PM > > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > > > > Tom, > > > > > > As you have noticed there is a great weight and power difference between > > the > > > GTS and Z650. That said, you probably are used to throwing the Z650 > into > > > the turn; the GTS doesn't feel like it can be thrown into a turn in the > > same > > > way, (but it can). Since the front end remains neutral (doesn't rise or > > > fall to any appreciable degree) the first time you take it into a turn > you > > > get that "Oh my god its going to remain standing straight up feeling". > > The > > > second time you come into a turn at high speed you get that "Oh my god > > this > > > is great - it doesn't dive when I hammer the front brake (because I > really > > > came into that turn waaaay too hot). Pick your line going into each > turn > > > and she will remain true to that line. Roll on the throttle halfway > > through > > > the turn and you'll shoot out straight like and arrow. > > > > > > Now, regarding low speed maneuvering. One of the best things that I > have > > > found is to practice balancing the bike at a stop light with feet on the > > > pegs, just like one would do with a bicycle. It's amazing how long you > > > actually can balance a 600lb+ motorcycle. Additionally, take a spin > > around > > > an empty parking lot on a Sunday at low speed to just find the balance > > point > > > and work on the low speed turns. > > > > > > Riding time on the GTS is the only real thing that will get you used to > > the > > > weight and power. > > > > > > atb Jeff B. > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: tomatomt [mailto:tomatomt@;BLUEYONDER.CO.UK] > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 3:36 PM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > > > > > > David, > > > > > > Thanks for your helpful reply, I don't feel so bad now. > > > > > > You may have spotted my response to others of the community, all of whom > > who > > > have been equally helpful and supportive. Basically I have not yet > > adjusted > > > to the dynamics of the machine. It might be sensible not to ride my Z650 > > for > > > a while as the difference in performance and handling is marked. > > > > > > As you say my major problem is the low speed handling, it actually feels > > as > > > if it is fighting me for control. The impression given is that the head > > > races are tight, however I have had the front wheel up and there does > not > > > appear to be any restriction to movement. > > > > > > This quirk and my ham fisted operation of the digital throttle and > clutch > > > makes slow turns an interesting experience. > > > > > > Your suggestion that a test ride by a more experienced GTS'er makes > sense > > > and I may head down that route. > > > > > > Thanks again for your interest. > > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > Tom T > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "uranus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 11:18 AM > > > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > > > > > > > At 00:01 30/10/02 -0500, you wrote: > > > > >Being a 11 stone (sorry 154 lbs) wimp, I have got to admit it's more > in > > > > >charge of me at times than I am of it, and I am having difficulty > > getting > > > it > > > > >to go round corners. It seems to physically object to changing > > direction. > > > No > > > > >doubt it's my ancient style of riding and body lean may not be the > way > > to > > > > >crank it over quick enough. > > > > > > > > Tom, > > > > > > > > That all sounds pretty familiar from my early days on the GTS. As a > > 'big > > > > touring' bike one is hoping that it will turn out to be effortless to > > ride > > > > but that isn't so, especially with standard bars and tyres. If your > > front > > > > tyre is down on pressure, and/or if you've made an unlucky tyre > choice, > > > the > > > > GTS can really need man-handling into a bend. Once you've got the > beast > > > > down, though, it stays relatively stable when cranked over. In a > > > > straighter line I've been up to 120mph on the clock and it's still > > > > imperturbable. > > > > > > > > My guess is that Yamaha went conservative with the front suspension > and > > > > steering geometry, not wanting to stray far from accepted telescopic > > fork > > > > norms for fear of litigation should anyone have got a "tank-slapper", > > > > etc. They probably could have reduced the trail by 20mm and reduced > the > > > > rake to 0 deg., and it still would have been rock steady. They didn't > > > > really maximise the advantages of the hub-centre layout IMO. > > > > > > > > After a time you will probably adapt, and it will become > > > > semi-subconscious. I think my style has now evolved into something > > like: > > > > > > > > 1) Initiate turn by positive counter-steering (if you've ever taken a > > > > corner on a motorbike at more than about 15 mph, you *have* > > > > counter-steered, it's just that it took so little effort or movement > > that > > > > you probably didn't notice). > > > > 2) Shift body weight to inside of turn by about one buttock's-width > for > > > > subjectively improved comfort and stability. > > > > 3) Steer with the hips for minor corrections to line. > > > > > > > > The faster you go, the more like other bikes it becomes, it's the > lower > > > > speed handling that takes getting used to. > > > > > > > > I've been running a 120/60 on the front for a while now and the > rounder > > > > profile definitely helps for easy direction changes. The GTS is > *very* > > > > sensitive to tyre choice, see "The dreaded tyre [tire] thread" which > > pops > > > > up on this list about every five minutes. A few additional PSI in the > > > > front is helpful in my experience, too. Higher / wider bars ought to > > make > > > > initiation easier, as would jacking up the rear a bit, but I've not > done > > > > either on the GTS. > > > > > > > > I know I'd be really interested to ride someone else's GTS just to > know > > > > that mine is typical, and I'd say that's what you should do too. > Anyone > > > > else in the London area??? > > > > David Thurgate http://www.uranus.co.uk/M_cycles.htm > > > > =================================================== > > > > Kawasaki ZX750-A1 in Tony Foale FFE frame > > > > Current status: Dismantled ;-( > > > > Yamaha GTS1000a in Yamaha FFE frame > > > > Current status: In everyday use :-) > >
